Sanitary dispenser



Jan. 19, 1937. E, HARP 2,068,023

SANITARY DISPENSER Filed Dec. 16, 1935 INVENTOR, 2313/22 2 fiv/p.

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

'I'hisinvention relates to dispensers for material packed in collapsible tubes and has for a primary object, the provision of such a dispenser, wherein the element of sanitation is present be- 5 cause of the unique and novel structure that not only includes a housing for the tube per se, but means for simultaneously closing both the housing and tube to keep the latter free from exposure. One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a sanitary dispenser having as a feature thereof, unique means for winding the tube into a roll for the purpose of extruding material from the tube as and in a quantity desired, said means being specifically positioned with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the tube so that binding or displacement thereof will not occur during use.

A still further object of the instant invention is to provide means for quickly and effectively 20 securing the tube in position within the dispenser housing so that the tube will not become maladjusted throughout the time the aforementioned extruding means is in association therewith.

A large number of minor objects of this invention will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sanitary dispenser illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, central, sectional view through the dispenser, showing the cover thereof in both the open and closed positions.

- Fig. 3 is a substantially horizontal, central,

sectional view through the dispenser.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the dispenser in the open condition, and,

Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross section through the dispenser, taken on line VV of Fig. 3.

It is obvious that a dispenser embodying the present invention may be used in connection with extruding materials from collapsible tubes of the nature used in packing such toilet requisites as tooth paste, shaving soap, hand lotions, face creams and the like, and the employment of a dispenser of the character illustrated not only provides a sanitary housing for the tube of material, but afiords convenient means of extruding a predetermined quantity of the material from the tube when it is desired to use the same.

The tube 8 illustrated in the accompanying drawing is of the conventional type, and is shown in said drawing in elevation. Tube 8 is provided with a neck In which has an orifice l2 formed therein that is disposed substantially on the longitudinal central axis of tube 8. Neck l and shoulder M of tube 8 are of semi-rigid material and much more substantial than the remaining portion of the body of tube 8, and because of these inherent characteristics of the tube, the dispenser hereinafter described becomes highly efficient in use.

The sanitary dispenser comprises a case l6 that may be formed of any suitable material such as 10 sheet metal or the well known phenolic substances, one of which is known to the trade as bakelite.

In forming case IS, the same should be provided with an open end that may be closed by a cover l8 hingedly mounted as illustrated at and having a suitable latch 22 which serves to releasably maintain cover l8 in the closed position. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, latch 22 is merely a spring finger that 20 extends through an opening 24 formed through cover l8. Operation of the latch is accomplished with one hand which leaves the other hand free for further manipulating the material feeding mechanism. 25

Assuming that tube 8 is in the position illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, cover I8 will also serve as a closure for tube 8 because of the sealing pad 26 that is carried by a hollow boss 28 formed on cover I8. This pad may be merely a sponge rub- 30 ber insert which will yield upon being pressed against neck l0 and tube 8 and. its presence will not affect the closing of cover l8. It will have a beneficial effect, however, upon the opening of cover l8 because as soon as latch 22 is released, the resilient rubber insert 26 will swing cover l8 outwardly so that it may be grasped for movement to the position .shown in dotted lines of Fig. 2.

Tube 8 is maintained in position within .case I6 by a resilient band or clamp member 30 that partially circumscribes tube 8 adjacent one end and at shoulder M. This resilient band 38 is anchored at one end as at 32 to one wall of case IS. The other end of this band carries a screw- 5 threaded member 34 that extends exteriorly of case Hi to be engaged by thumb nut 36 which is manipulated to draw band 30 into tight engagement with tube 8. Such action will force shoulder I4 of tube 8 against the bottom of case l6 0 and thereby maintain the two against displacement. As illustrated in Fig. 4, member 34 passes through an untapped opening formed in case IS.

The means for extruding material from tube 8 and winding the emptied portion of the tube is clearly shown and comprises a slotted spool 38, having flanges 40 adjacent each end thereof and a handle 42 on one end exteriorly of case IS. The flattened end of tube 8 is engaged by the slot formed in spool 38 and as the spool is turned, the emptied tube will be wound thereabout. The ends of spool 38 are journalled in slots 44 formed in opposed sides of case l6 so that as tube 8 is shortened, spool 38 will gradually approach clamp 30. These slots 44 are inclined downwardly from the longitudinal axis of tube 8 as band is approached. This inclination insures an even pull and further provides that the outer surface of the wound portion of tube 8 will be tangent to the longitudinal axis of the tube, upon which is positioned neck l0 and orifice 12. Thus when substantially all the material is forced from tube 8, the top of the wound portion on spool 40 will be tangent to the axis of neck I0 and no distortion or binding will have occurred.

It is understood that this dispenser may be hung on a wall through the medium of brackets 46 or may be otherwise positioned for convenient use and while one embodiment has been illustrated and described, it is understood that many changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispenser for material packed in a collapsible tube comprising a case to house the tube; a clamp within the case partially circumscribing the tube to hold the tube against displacement; means for adjusting the clamp to draw the tube against the case; and means for winding the tube into a roll to force material therefrom.

2. A dispenser for material packed in a collapsible tube comprising a case to house the tube having a slot formed in each of two opposing side walls respectively; a clamp within the case partially circumscribing and engaging the tube adjacent one end thereof; a spool, having means for engaging the other end of the tube, journalled in said slots; and a handle for rotating the spool to wind the tube thereon as the spool travels along said slots, said clamp having means for drawing the tube into tight engagement with the case.

3. A dispenser for material packed in a collapsible tube comprising a case to house the tube having a slot formed in each of two opposing side walls respectively; a clamp within the case partially circumscribing and engaging the tube adjacent one end thereof; a spool, having means for engaging the other end of the tube, journalled in said slots; and a handle for rotating the spool to wind the tube thereon as the spool travels along said slots, said slots being inclined from the normal longitudinal central axis of the tube when clamped in the case, as the clamped end of the tube is approached, whereby the outer face of the wound portion of the tube is constantly maintained tangent to the longitudinal axis of the tube, one end of said clamp extending exteriorly of the case through one wall thereof to render a portion thereof accessible for drawing the clamp into engagement with the tube.

4. A dispenser for material packed in a collapsible tube comprising a case to house the tube; a hinged cover on the case; a clamp to hold the tube against displacement when in the case; a spool movable toward and from the clamp also within the case, having a handle extending exteriorly thereof; means formed on the spool for engaging the end of the tube to wind the same thereon as the spool is rotated by manual manipulation of the same through the mediumv of its handle; and a sealing member on the said cover to close the mouth of the tube when the cover is in position closing the case, said clamp being independent of the said cover and extending partially around the tube near one end thereof, one end of said clamp being anchored to the case, the other end thereof extending through one wall of the case, said extended end having adjustable tightening means thereon,

5. A dispenser for material packed in a collapsible tube comprising a case to house the tube; a hinged cover on the case; a clamp to hold the tube against displacement when in the case; a spool movable toward and from the clamp also within the case, having a handle extending exteriorly thereof; means formed on the spool for engaging the end of the tube to wind the same thereon as the spool is rotated by manual manipulation of the same through the medium of its handle; and a sealing member on the said cover to close the mouth of the tube when the cover is in position closing the case, said clamp comprising a partially circumsoribing band extending exteriorly of the case and having means thereon for contracting the band into engagement with the tube.

ESSIE P. HARP. 

